Method of labeling



Nov. 7, 1939.

G. w. vQN Hol-E Er Al.' 2,178.979

METHOD OF IJABELIIIGY `Fi1d Jan. 4, 19:58

1N VENTO/es GEORGE W VON Hof-E DHA/w. E5 A ELA us ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 14939 UNITED STATES .METHOD or LABELING George W. von

Hofe, Bound Brook, and Charles A. Claus, Short Hills,

N. J., assignors to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 4. 193s, sei-iai No. 183,314

1 Claim.

The invention relates to methods of labeling and more particularly to labeling methods whereby pregummed labels, that is labels with dry coatings of adhesive, are used in the labeling process. The invention has for its object to provide a novel method whereby the application of the pregummed labels is effected in a uniform and efficient manner. The invention contemplates further the provision of a method -whereby the dry adhesive coatings are treated in a manner to insure instantaneous and efilcient adhesion of the labels to the articles for which theyl are intended. Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the BE features of novelty will be pointed out 'in the claim. Y

In the accompanying drawing which shows an example of an apparatus for carryingout the novel method, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of said apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The novel method of labeling comprises removing pre-gummed labels, that is labels provided with dry coatings of adhesive, in individual succession from the bottom or equivalent end of a supply stack with the adhesive surfacesA of said \1abels exposed, carrying each removed label into the presence of a spraying liquid to moisten the adhesive coated surface thereof, permitting said moistened adhesive coating to season for a predetermined time period, transferring each label subsequently tothe 4seasoning of the adhesive coating, into applying relation to an articlepand applying said label thereto. Under some. conditions, the step of definitely permitting the moistened adhesive coating to season may be omitted, although otherwise the method may be the same as described above.

llis shown diagrammatically in Fig-1 of the drawing, a supply of labels 5 is arranged in the vform of a preferably upright stack with the adhesive coated surfaces of the labels facing upwardly in said stack; the arrangement is such that the stack is accessible at its lower or equivalent end to permit successive terminal labels. to be individually removed therefrom. l The stack 5 accordingly is preferably .contained in a suitable stationary hopper 6 open at its lower or equivalent end and including any conventional means, such as resilient detents 1, for maintaining the stack 5 in the hopper 6 without interference with the removal of successive terminal labels from the bottom or equivalent end thereof.

In the diagrammatically illustrated example, they mechanism which co-operates with the stack (Cl. 21S-62) of labels 5 in carrying out the method, comprises a carrier 8 rotatable on a suitable stationary axis 9 preferably in intermittent 4steps in any conventional and well-known way. The carrier is provided with a plurality of members extendingradially outward therefrom and partaking of the intermittent movement of said carrier 3; the illustrated diagrammatic example shows four members each consisting of a main section i@ .and an auxiliary section Il telescopically combined with the main section Ill and longitudinally movable relatively thereto byany suitable means in operative synchronism with the co-operating parts of the mechanism. To diagrammatically illustrate the aforesaid longitudinal movements, each section 'il is loosely connected at l2 with an arm I3 pivoted at l upon a bracket l5 projecting from the associated section i0. Each arm i3 in turn is pivotally connected at i6 withV a rod il sliclably mounted in a bearing i8 and carrying a roller le in engagement with a cam 2@ fixed upon the shaft 9; a spring 2l' is *mounted on each rod Il and tends to move `the co-operating section il outwardly'relatively to its associated section i. l

Each auxiliary section ll is provided at its outer end with a pick-up device for removing terminal labels from the bottom or equivalent end of the stack 5 in individual succession, each device beingdiagrammaticaHy illustrated in the forn of a suction head 2 2 suitably connected with a source of suction in any well-known way: provision is made in any customary manner for controlling the suction effective in the .heads 22 in predetermined synchronism with the operative steps performed by said mechanism. For instance, theaxis 9 may consist of a hollow cylinder connected by means of a tube @t with a source of suction arranged 'to develop a c onstant -suction in the interior 2t of the axis 9 during when the apparatus is in operation. Thev axis cylinder dis provided with a circumferential slot 25 arranged to register with ports 2t in the carrier 8; in such case the sections i0 and il may include internal passages 21 which connect the ports 26 with the heads 22 or their equivalent.

In *addition to the parts so far described, the mechanism diagrammatically shown in the drawing includes a sprayingfdevice 28 connected in any convenient way with a source of water or other liquid preferably under pressurait being understood that means is provided for controlling the spraying device 281m accordance with the predetermined operative cycle of the mechanism. The arrangement further includes a movlatter may be replaced by any other well-known.

means for accomplishing the same or an equivalent purpose.

For purposes of description, it may be assumed that the stack of labels 5 is located at a pick-up station A, that the spraying device 28 is located at a' spraying station B in spaced relation to the vpick-up station A, and to a seasoning station C which in turn is in spaced relation to the labeling station D; ,in some installations, the seasoning station C may be omitted. It will be understood that the stations A, B, C, and D are located at spaced intervals in operative relation to the path intermittently traversed by the suction heads 22 'or equivalent pick-up devices; in the diagrammatic illustration, the several stations are accordingly located at 90 intervals in operative relation to the circular path over which the suctions heads 22 move intermittently duringany given operative period of the' mechanism. The above is obviously true also if the station C is omitted, although the spacing arrangement in such case may be somewhat diiferent, the latlter always being dependent upon the type of mechanism and the operative cycley developed thereby.

' In the operation of carrying out the novel method `previously described herein, the carrier 8 is rotated one, step in the direction of the arrow to bring `one of the suction heads I2 or its equivalent to the pick-up station A beneath and temporarilygat rest in registry with the lower end of the stack 5; at this station A the co-operating roller I9 .will drop into a recess of the cam 2|! under the influence of the associated spring 2l e and thereby will rock the arm I3 in a'direction to shift the section III outwardly of the section IIJ and cause said suction head 22 to be operatively moved into contact with the lowermost terminal label of said stack 5. At this stage the port 26 and internal passage 21 of the' given sc ctions I0 and II will register with the slot 25 so that suction is made effective in the suction head 22. As the intermittent rotation of the carrier 8 is resumed, the roller I9 will ride out of the cam recess whereby the rod I1, arm I3 and section II are operated to shift the suction head in a downward directionin the diagrammatic illustration to thereby withdraw and remove the terminal label from the lower or equivalent end of the stack 5. The second step in the rotation of the carrier 8 is continued until the suction head 22 and the label held thereon is moved to the spraying station B into registry Awith the spraying device 28,'it being understood that at this stage the adhesive coated surface of said label faces A the aforesaid spraying device 28. During the rest period which follows this latter operation,

a spray of water or other suitable liquidis ex- 2,178,9179 I able support for the articles to be labeled, which adhesive tacky. The carrier 81s then again actuated, subsequently tothe moistening of the` adhesive coating of the label, to bring the suction head 22 andsaid label to the seasoning station C at which said label is permitted to remain for apredetermined time period during which the moistened and softened coating of adhesivev is.

permitted to season. At the end of the seasoning period the operation of the carrier 8 is renewed Y to-bring .the suction head 22 and the label car- 'the co-operatlng rod l1 and arm I3 are actuated by thespring 2I which controls the same. to

operatively shift the suction head 22 toward the 4 hesive engagement of said label with the bottle 30 or its equivalent, the port 26 and the particular internal passage 21 related to the given suction head 22 will pass beyond and out of registry with the circumferential slot 25 whereby suction in the particular suction, head 22 is discontinued; it will be understood that the circumferential length of the slot 25 is such that. suction will be maintained in a given head 22 during the successive steps in which it trav'els from the station A to the station D. As the intermittent rotation of the carrier 8 is resumed, the given roller -I9 will passout of the second recess of the cam 20 tothe periphery thereof, and the associated rod I1 and arm I3 will accordingly be actuated to shift said suction head 22 in a direction away from the bottle 30 or its equivalent, the previously deposited label remaining in adhesive engagement with said bottle or other article, as these last named operations take place. 'Ihe application of the label subsequent to its initial engagement with the bottle -30 or other article is then completed in any conventional manner and at the same time the given suction head 22 is again shifted to the pick-up station A, whereupon the aforesaid steps are repeated.

'I'he steps in the novel method set forth above are effected in a corresponding manner by the suction heads" carried by the other members which extend radially outward from the carrier 8, so that the various steps of the method are being carried out successively and in sequence at the different stations throughout ay given operative period of the mechanism, as will be clear.

Under certain conditions, the definite rest period at the seasoning station C may be omitted or, in other words, the seasoning of the adhesive coating may be omitted, in which case the label subsequent to the moistening and softening of the adhesive coating at the station B may be shifted directly to the applying station D for application `to the article to be labeled.

The novel method makes it possible to utilize pre-gummed labels or labels provided with dry coatings of adhesive where such is desired, and to apply said labels to the articles for which they are designed, in an eicient and continuous manner. As is evidenced by the diagrammatic illustration, the method-may be mechanically per. hesive on one surface in individual succession formed by mechanism oi maximum simplicity, f from a supply stack with thedry adhesive coated .requiring no particular skilll in itssupervision. surface of each successive label exposed, spraying r Various changes in the specific forms shown the adhesivecoated surface of individual labels 5 and described may be made within the scope of with a liquid to soften said adhesive, permitting, 5 the claimlwithout departing from the spirit of said softened adhesive to season for a.` predetertheinvention. v V mined time period, and subsequently to the sea- We claim:- soning period applying the label to yan article.

A method of labeling which consists in re- GEORGE W. von HOFE.

10 moving'labels each havinga coating of dry ad CHARLES A. CLAUS. 10 

